Palm Desert, CA – September 16, 2024 – The California Desert Association of Realtors (CDAR) Young Professionals Network (YPN) set forth to make a difference in the community this August by organizing the Amistad Boost for Change Donation Drive in support of Amistad High School located in Indio. Focused on enhancing the school’s library and uplifting student morale, Desert YPN spent the month of August collecting books and donations to benefit the Amistad library and student store.
CDAR members were encouraged to contribute throughout the month via a wish list curated in collaboration with the Amistad High School librarian, aiming to provide the specific books the school is in need of.
The outcome was uplifting, with an estimated 35 books and 28 gift cards donated to the school. The fundraising efforts were bolstered by the success of a Speakeasy Soiree Mixer held in late July, where attendees had the option to bring a book or donation item in exchange for a raffle ticket, adding an element of fun and excitement to the charitable cause. Desert YPN leveraged promotional videos and social media outreach to rally support, kicking off the Month of Giving campaign on a high note by collecting a variety of books and gift cards during the Speakeasy Soiree alone.
“It’s heartwarming to see how our members and the community rallied around this important cause. Supporting local schools like Amistad High goes beyond just giving—it’s about investing in the future of our students and empowering them to succeed,” said 2024 CDAR President Susan Marshall. “As Realtors, we have a responsibility to strengthen our communities, and this donation drive is one way we can make a lasting impact.”
The Amistad Boost for Change Donation Drive was spearheaded by YPN Committee Chair Moises Amador, who reflected on the personal significance of this initiative: “I grew up in Indio and now build my career here as a Realtor. Organizing this donation drive for Amistad High School has been incredibly meaningful to me. I’ve attended career day for the last two years and work with a lot of kids in the valley that come from challenging backgrounds. I just want to show those kids that if I can do it, they can do it as well.”
California Desert Association of Realtors Young Professionals Network is a committee that serves the purpose of planning, recommending, and implementing education and networking events to promote growth, membership participation, and new leadership within the organization.
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The California Desert Association of Realtors is the trusted source for real estate in the desert cities. We are a trade association for real estate professionals residing in the Greater Palm Springs area and the surrounding areas. For more information, please contact our corporate office at (760)-346-5637 or visit our website at cdaronline.org
CDAR continues its over thirty-year tradition of awarding scholarships to high school seniors
Palm Desert, CA – May 16, 2024 – The California Desert Association of REALTORS® (CDAR) is proud to announce the awarding of $11,000 in academic scholarships to high school seniors in the Greater Palm Springs area. This initiative continues CDAR’s longstanding tradition of supporting local students in their pursuit of higher education, a commitment that has spanned over thirty years.
In 2024, eleven exemplary students were each awarded $1,000 scholarships. Among the recipients is the child of a CDAR Realtor or Affiliate member, marking the seventh consecutive year this particular scholarship has been awarded. Since its inception in 1988, the CDAR Scholarship Fund has provided scholarships to over 300 high school seniors, distributing more than $200,000 in total scholarship funds.
The CDAR Scholarship Committee faced a challenging task in selecting this year’s recipients from a highly competitive pool of candidates. The committee is dedicated to recognizing and supporting the academic ambitions of students within the community.
“CDAR is honored to able to be a steppingstone in fostering the educational development of young minds in our community,” said Susan Marshall, 2024 CDAR President. “We are proud to support these talented students as they embark on their academic journeys.”
This year’s scholarship recipients are:
The scholarship recipients and their families were honored at the 2024 Scholarship Breakfast, where special guest speaker Haley Clawson, Chief Meteorologist with KESQ, spoke to attendees. Clawson shared her journey and advice with these graduating students, emphasizing the importance of furthering their education and experience.
Funds for the CDAR Scholarship Fund are raised through events such as the Runway of Dreams Scholarship Fashion Show held in April, and through the CDAR Scholarship Tree, located at the CDAR Corporate Office in Palm Desert, CA. To find out how to donate or support the CDAR Scholarship Fund, please contact the CDAR Office at 760-346-5637.
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The California Desert Association of Realtors is the trusted source for real estate in the desert cities. We are a trade association for real estate professionals residing in the Greater Palm Springs area and the surrounding areas. For more information, please contact our corporate office at 760-346-5637 or visit our website at cdaronline.org.
Palm Desert, CA – May 8, 2024 – In light of the preliminary court approval of a settlement by real estate brokerages and the National Association of Realtors for antitrust lawsuits, in conjunction with the California Association of Realtors, the California Desert Association of Realtors is releasing an open letter to mitigate confusion about the process of buying and selling a home once new business practices become effective this summer.
The letter, which is being blanketed throughout the entire state of California, begins, “If you’ve been reading about real estate lately, you’ve no doubt heard about antitrust lawsuits and settlements by real estate brokerages and the National Association of Realtors. You’ve also heard about the settlements resulting in certain changes in how agents will be compensated for their work. Recent coverage by media entities, industry insiders and anyone with an opinion and a smartphone have offered up a mix of fact and fiction. All this noise has caused confusion, fear and, in some instances, panic about the process of buying and selling a home.”
The letter outlines the two major changes resulting from the litigation settlement. 1) Properties listed in databases known as the multiple listing service (MLS) will no longer be allowed to include an offer of compensation to buyer’s agents and 2) Homebuyers who want to work with an agent will need to sign a written agreement with that agent prior to touring a home. This means before consumers start their home search, they’ll need to discuss and agree with their agent what the agent will do on their behalf, and they’ll need to decide how much and how to pay that agent.
In fact, California Realtors have supported transparency with respect to how buyer’s agents are compensated for more than two decades since the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) introduced its first buyer representation agreement in 1999. C.A.R. introduced its most recent Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation Agreement in December 2022.
“We come to this job because I love putting people in homes. We stay in this job because we love working with clients, who become my friends and neighbors. As we have done for decades, through up markets and down markets, through periods of industry change, we will stand by our clients, serve our communities, and continue to do what we do best — work to create a future that enables homeownership for all who want it.” the letter concludes.
View the open letter at the link below:
https://cdaronline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CAR_OpenLetter_FINAL.pdf
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The California Desert Association of Realtors is the trusted source for real estate in the desert cities. We are a trade association for real estate professionals residing in the Greater Palm Springs area and the surrounding areas. Committed to advancing the real estate industry, CDAR provides education, advocacy, and networking opportunities to its members. For more information, please contact our corporate office at 760-346-5637 or visit our website at cdaronline.org.
Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 118 years, the California Association of Realtors (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with more than 180,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.
Palm Desert, CA — January 25, 2024 -The California Desert Association of Realtors (CDAR) provided an in-depth analysis of the economic landscape and a glimpse into the forthcoming trends shaping the real estate market in the Coachella Valley at the Realtor Economic Forecast. The event drew an assembly of real estate professionals and industry leaders at the picturesque Desert Willow Golf Resort to delve into market dynamics and explore innovative strategies and trends for real estate in 2024.
The event featured keynote speakers John Sebree, CEO of the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.), and Jordan Levine, Chief Economist with C.A.R., both renowned experts in the field. Discussion topics included interest rates, inflation, housing market trends, and advocating for policies benefiting Realtors and the real estate industry.
John Sebree emphasized the importance of Realtors in the economy, stating that “real estate equals 16-17% of the GDP of our nation, our county, our city.” He underscored the pivotal role played by the real estate sector in contributing to the economic prosperity of local, regional, and national levels.
Jordan Levine’s projections for the housing market, as shared at the event, suggest improvement compared to the previous year. “The housing market is projected to be better than last year, with an estimated 60-70 thousand more transactions this year than last year,” Levine said. “However, this projected growth in real estate sales is not to the prediction of lower rates driving buyers back in market, although that will boost the buyer demand.” Levine went on to state that it is assumed that with lower rates, many of the supply will be unlocked.
Levine said the economic landscape has witnessed a significant decrease in inflation since 2022, plummeting from 8.93% to 3.9%. While another recession is not on the horizon, economic forecasts indicated an expected slowdown in growth.
As the economic outlook suggests a 25 to 30% improvement this year, Levine concluded with a note of optimism tempered by the reality of a demanding market environment. While positive strides are anticipated, Realtors are encouraged not to take progress for granted, as achieving the ultra-high rates of transactions witnessed when rates were at 3% could still be a considerable challenge in the market.
Levine explained that the annual consumer surveys conducted by C.A.R. on a sample of 30,000 Californians indicated a persistent desire for homeownership, with around 85-90% expressing its significance as synonymous with the American Dream. Industry professionals were urged to serve as market experts, recognizing homeownership aspirations and providing necessary guidance to meet this demand. CDAR 2024 President Susan Marshall expressed gratitude for the impactful contributions of the keynote speakers and the engagement of attendees. “We are thrilled to have had such distinguished speakers at our economic forecast event,” Marshall said. “The knowledge shared today will undoubtedly empower our members to thrive in the ever-changing real estate landscape. It is our responsibility to help consumers navigate this complicated market environment and achieve the dream of homeownership.”
As the real estate industry continues to evolve, the California Desert Association of Realtors remains committed to providing valuable resources and fostering a community that stays ahead of the curve.
A strong economy, low unemployment, low mortgage rates, and alluring mortgage rates are making it a great time to buy a home, according to a newly released report from LendingTree, an online financial services marketplace. The amount of income that buyers spent on their mortgage payments also dropped from 2010 through 2019, despite higher home prices.
“If you are in a point in your life where you’re considering buying a home today, it’s a better time to buy than 10 years ago,” Tendayi Kapfidze, LendingTree’s chief economist, told realtor.com®. “If you can get a mortgage, you’re getting much lower interest rates, and it enables you to afford more. But that also means that you’re competing with more buyers, who are bidding up the prices.”
Indeed, median sales prices jumped 53.5% between early 2012 and summer 2019, according to realtor.com®. But a decrease in average mortgage rates—by more than a percentage point from the start of the decade—is helping to offset some of that uptick. Mortgage rates have dropped from 5.09% to 3.74% during that time period. That drop could save borrowers hundreds of dollars a year to tens of thousands over the life of the loan, realtor.com® reports.
Since the Great Recession, borrowers are being more responsible too, Kapfidze says. They’re “much healthier financially than they were 10 years ago,” Kapfidze says. “One reason is because of low mortgage rates. If you refinance, [you can] reduce your monthly mortgage payments.”
Homeowners are also sitting on more equity. In 2012, nationwide equity reached a low of $8.2 trillion. In 2019, it grew to about $18.7 trillion.
(Republished from REALTOR® Magazine)
All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR “®” logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again. Our members abide by a strict code of ethics and have access to a wide variety of business services that are not available to non-REALTORS. This gives them a competitive edge in the marketplace, enabling them to provide superior services to buyers and sellers of real property.
(Information herein © 1995-2014 National Association of REALTORS®)
As a prerequisite to selling real estate, a person must be licensed by the state in which they work, either as an agent/salesperson or as a broker. Before a license is issued, minimum standards for education, examinations and experience, which are determined on a state by state basis, must be met. After receiving a real estate license, most agents go on to join their local board or association of REALTORS® and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, the world’s largest professional trade association. They can then call themselves REALTORS®.
The term “REALTOR®” is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics (which in many cases goes beyond state law). In most areas, it is the REALTOR® who shares information on the homes they are marketing, through a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Working with a REALTOR® who belongs to an MLS will give you access to the greatest number of homes.
An agent is bound by certain legal obligations. Traditionally, these common-law obligations are to: Put the client’s interests above anyone else’s; Keep the client’s information confidential; Obey the client’s lawful instructions; Report to the client anything that would be useful; and Account to the client for any money involved.
NOTE: A REALTOR® is held to an even higher standard of conduct under the NAR’s Code of Ethics. In recent years, state laws have been passed setting up various duties for different types of agents. As you start working with a REALTOR®, ask for a clear explanation of your state’s current regulations, so that you will know where you stand on these important matters.
Suppose you sign an offer to buy a home for $150,000. You really want the property and there’s a chance other offers are coming in, so you tell the broker that “We’ll go up to $160,000 if we have to. But of course don’t tell that to the seller.” If you’re dealing with a seller’s agent, he or she may be duty-bound to tell the seller that important fact. In most states, the seller’s agent doesn’t have any duty of confidentiality toward you. Honest treatment might require that the agent warn you that “I must convey to the seller anything that would be useful so don’t tell me anything you wouldn’t tell the seller.”
TIP: If you’re dealing with seller’s agents, it’s a good idea to keep confidential information to yourself. These days many home buyers prefer instead to hire a buyer’s broker, one who owes the full range of duties, including confidentiality and obedience, to the buyer. A buyer’s broker is often paid by the seller, regardless of the agency relationship.
In making your decision to work with an agent, there are certain questions you should ask when evaluating a potential agent. The first question you should ask is whether the agent is a REALTOR® . You should then ask:
(Information therein © 1995-2014 National Association of REALTORS®)
